The editors have brought together theoretical and empirical contributions on the topic of defense together with studies on the applications of these constructs to clinical and personality assessment, especially with regard to psychopathology, psychosomatics, and psychotherapeutic intervention. This systematic and up-to-date overview highlights the advantages and potentials of currently available approaches to empirical research on defense mechanisms. The text is divided into five practical sections, each containing pertinent chapters written by international authorities in the field: General Issues; Methodological Considerations; Personality and Applied Psychology; Clinical Assessment and Psychotherapeutic Interventions; and Psychosomatics. This book serves as an invitation to develop new avenues of experimental and psychodynamic investigation in this rapidly growing field as well as to refine and extend the existing approaches.